The Opposition

9 years ago

John Boehner: 'Hell No'

Before the vote on health-care reform John Boehner asked Republican lawmakers to “behave like grownups” if the health-care bill passed. But right before the bill passed, Boehner apparently wasn’t quite ready to take his own advice. Asking members of the House if they could honestly say the bill came about through transparency and openness, he answered his own question in a call-and-response preacher style. “Hell, no, you can’t!” he shouted. “Have you read the bill? Have you read the reconciliation bill? Have you read the manager’s amendment? Hell, no, you haven’t.” With the room getting a bit testy, Representative David Obey (D-WI), in the chair, reminded everyone where they were. “Both sides would do well to remember the dignity of the House,” Obey said. Speaker Pelosi spoke next, thanking President Obama and the late Ted Kennedy, before the House passed the historic reform.